While some have described the portraits as too risqué – and PEOPLE.com readers deemed them "inappropriate" for a 15-year-old – O'Donnell finds them beautiful, she says, explaining that working with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz can be an intimidating experience.

"Listen, Annie Leibovitz – I had two photo shoots with her," O'Donnell says. "You kind of do what she says. It's intimidating. I also didn't think it was a pornographic photo in any capacity. I thought it was sort of a beautiful portrait.

And she continued: "I like the one of her and her dad, too. I don't know. It's Annie Leibovitz, people."

O'Donnell has also polled her readers, asking in her "Question of the Day" feature: Do U Care About This Photo? (A majority of her readers have responded 'no.')

For her part, Cyrus apologized for the photographs – and Leibovitz too has said she's sorry for any misinterpretation.